davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26

The new, the universal language. known as Volapuh, may never come in- to general use, but two gentlemen who have had the privilege of hearing it spoken emphatically testify to its ire sistible melody. One says, so "London Figaro" reports, that it sounds 'like double Dutch spoken by a Choctaw In- dian suff .ring from a chronic croup," while tho other Hiaks that it breaks upon the yavishcd, car like the music made -by a WelcAshn trying to cough in modern Greek"
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
H..
Seventeen years had rolled away.

Seventeen years had rolled away.
 A republic had gone down in sea of blood and an empire had risen. Maxi milan was on the throne; the beautiful Carlotta had surrounded herself with an imperial court, rivalling the brilliancy of the one at the Tuillerics; Bazine's legiors covered the land, and it seemed the usurpers had come to stay.
 Among the Mexican hidalgoes who rallied around the imperial standard, the wealthiest and most influential, was un- doubtedly Senor Valdez.
 "The prediction is coming to pass" the senor would frequently say to him. self. "Thc republic is dead, and we have a court swarming with princes. Rita is the most beautiful woman and the richest heiress in Mexico. Why should she not be princessa Old Per dita told the truth"
 Rita was presented at court, and even the empress looked at her in delighted admiration.
 "Your daughter will be princessp she whispered to Senor Valdez, who at that moment was looking at his gold laced coat tails in a mirror
 ''She has the noblest blood of old Spain in her veins," replied Valdez proudly.
 .That does not need to be said," an swered the empress, taking tho girl by the hand and leading her to quiet cor ner of the salon.
 The Senorita Valdez had been educat cd by the best European tutors that hel fathers 5 liberal offers could secure. she va mistress of every accomplishment E9lz4es>Fn(xds1o stcsst of tho tact thu
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
Rullefs Without Billets.

The question has often been raised, what proportion of balls, exchanged by hostile armies, will hit their mark and kill. Difficult as it is to solve it exactly, some approximation may be arrived it from the number of Underestimate at 20, 900, OO0-which were fired by tho Germans in tho war of 1870-71. Tho French army lost, in dead and wounded about 40, 900 men. According to this, only ono ball out of 143 fired hit it's man, and assuming that on an average only one man out of seven hit was actu- ally killed, it would seem that fly ono rifle ball in s5S proved fatal. If tits fur thcr considered that the number of men wounded and killed by the guns of tho artillery are included in the above csti- mate, it may safely be said that not over one rifle ball in 1000 fired proved to be fatal.-[ Boston Beacon.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
Boring a Square Hole.

A man has spent fourteen years in solving the problem of boring square hole, and he has succeeded. A company is organized to put his invention on the market It IS simply an oscillating head with chisel edges and projecting lips, which cut out the corners in ad- vance of the chiscl. The balance of the machine is an almost exact counterpart of tho old style boring machine. It will cut two by four mortice in from four to five minutes-and do it with perfect accuracy that carpenter cannot com pletc in less than half an hour.- Hal flax Critic.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
Mushroom-Growing in Illinois.

A company was recently organized in the city of Chicago which has lea scd five acres of tho tunnels of tho Utica Cement Manufacturing company for twenty years for the production of mushrooms. Tues day, II. s. Weaver, superintendent of this new industry, left for Franco in the interests of tho organization and will bring back supply of mushroom spawn imbcddcd in rich compost, a handful of which spawn or seed would be sufficient to plant acres. There arc several gen tlcmcn interested in this new industry, which is surely novelty in this part of the state, or probably in the United States, for that matter, for, as far as known, De such large company exists in this country. The method of raising this cryptogamic plant as proposed in the tunnels will doubtless be interesting ito our readers. There arc num- Eefs of these subtcrrancau cham bers owned by tho Utica Cement Manufacturing Company, but only few of them will be used at first in tho mushroom industry. The soil or manure will be brought from Chicago by tho carload and made into beds in the tunnels and the spawn set therein.
 A crop can be grown every twenty four hours, and two crops if desired, as all that need be done is to clip off the head and the fringe will, inside the next twelve hours, produce another mu,h- room plant. The experiment of growing this delectable article of food has been tried in English mines, but with the i'm purities of the gas, air, etc., it was not possible to obtain success and the at- tempts proved fai' ures. The air of the tunnels is not impregnatcd with foul odors, is of an even temperature, ard the entire conditions are such that a failure cannot possibly result. The com pany at first proposes to put in sufficient beds to yield 100 bushels per day, which sell in the Chicago market for 30 cents per pound. -[ La Salle Qll.) Press.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26

A pcrfccting press, such as most lead fig newspapers arc printed on, is an ex- pcnsive and intricate piece of machinery. The cost runs up among tho thousands Of dollars and it consists of many deli cate parts nicely adjusted. At the same time it exerts tremendous mechanical force when in operation, and is not a thing to be trifled with. Imagine the sensations of a leading Now York pub fisher one day recently, when he saw an iron wrench go crashing through his pre;s, following the path designed for a single thickness of paper. It was the fault ofa careless prcssman, who had started tho machine without removing the wrench, which he had been using h an instant, so rapid is the motion of these presses, cylinders were broken, wheels twisted out of shape, thousands of dollars of damage done and, most az gravating of all, the wrench came out uninjurcd.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26

T. c. Crawford writes thus from Lon- don to the New York World of suffering American workmcn who have sought employment in Europe:
 There Is large number of foolish Americans, who arc continually coming to Europe to seek work. 1 hear most touching stories of want and suffering among people of this class. Consul Gen eral Waller said the other day that he had heard of more pitiablc cases of suf- fcring since his occupancy of office than he had ever heard of before in his fife The fact cannot be too widely published that Europe is TO place for American workingmer of any class. If they come ever here with positions secured in ad- vance they still run the risk of being exposed in the end to poverty and dis trcss. Once their places arc lost it seem; almost impossible for them to get foot hold again. * The competition in Europe among the workingmen Is so fierce and the wages arc so low in comparison with those in our country that 1t is hard to understand how any intelligent workingman would venture to come here without careful investiga- tion. There arc thousands of men in London out of work. For every vacancy there are hundreds and hundreds of ap- plications. For three or four dollars a week you can command the services ot university undergraduate. Trafalgar < square every night is filled with poo men and women who have no homes They fill the benches, and in one of tn, lower corners, sheltered from the wind thty lie upon the hard pavemen stretched out in long lines, two or thre, luadrcd in number. The majority 0 these people are tramps ard vagrants Tut there is large percentage of we'll sducated and skillful workmen amon{ this army of outeasts.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
The Game of Progressive Observation.

Progressive Observation" is the name given to new Boston game that has been taken up with interest in social circles. It has an advantage over 'dou key parties" and progressive cuchrc in that it teaches something useful. The hostess provides five tables, at each of which are seated four or five persons, or even more if desired. Table No. 1, or the ''hcad' table, represents the sense of sight, the highest sense. Table No. ? is touch, No. hearing, No. smell, and No. taste. There is teacher for each table, and the teacher is supplied with variety of objects suited to the use of the table. For instance, the teacher at the sight table holds before each player in turn collection of small objects on tray, and after the lapse of half minute takes away tho tray and asks the player to name the articles. Or the teacher gives each person single article, and after short inspection calls for answers to all tho questions that can be asked about it. Score is kept by the teacher, and the player making the least mistakes progresses to the next table.
 At the close of the evening the player who has made the most "progressions" is awarded the prize. The variety of objects for the several tables is only limited by the teachers ingenuity and the resources of the house. At the "touch' table tho players close their eyes and depend on the sense of feeling alone for their impression of the article given them. This is not so easy as it may be supposed. For the "hcaring" table musical instrument may be used and the test given on note or combi- nation of notes; or number of thin | glasses may be used in like way, the player being asked to give tho number of particular sound which is given alone after being struck in regular succession. For the taste and smell tables the kitchen can be drawn upon, and such things as flour, meal, powdered maccaroni, corn starch, granum, and others, whose taste and smell in tlc raw state are either not very pronounced or not familiar, arc good for tho purpose.
 The game is not so much like "child's play" as may be thought. True, it had its origin in the "plays" of kinder garten, but, as developed and enlarged, tho idea proves very we'll adapted to the entertainment of grown people, who are rational en ough to like little sense with their fun. -[ Minneapolis Tribune.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26

Very few people on this side of the Atlantic have any idea of how much is being done in Europe in the study of tho food and nutrition of man. In the lab- -oraties of the great universities, especial ay in Germany, experimental researches -nrc being carried on which are really semarkable. Some of the most ingen-
 a6l costly apparatus, and the pains-- taking investigation which modern setanc, employs are devoted to finding out how the body is nourishcd and how food works. Experiments arc made with animals of many kinds, and with human beings also. The experimenters rut man inside the respiration appara- tus and weigh and measure and analyzs not only his food and drink, but all the products given off from his body, in- cluding even tho air he breathcs.- Times,
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
PEARLS OF THOUGHT.

No man is wise or safe but he that is honest.
 All arc not princes that ride with the emperor.
 Correction i, good when administered in season. s.
 It takes great deal of grace to be able to bear praise.
 Character would bc impossible were there no temptation.
 Good manners and good morals are sworn friends and firm allies.
 That cannot be healthy condition In which few prosper and the great mass are drudgcs.
 Promises made in thu time of af4iction require better memory than people commonly possess.
 In tho matter of speed there is great similarity between flash of lightning and bit of scandal.
 Every great and commandin movc- mcnt in the annals of the world is tho triumph of enthusiasm. 2, ..
 Sin is never at a stay: if we do not retreat from it we shall advance in it, and further on we go the moro we havc to como back.
 In all negotiations of difficulty, man may not look to SOW and reap at once, but must prepare business, and so ripcn it by degrees.
 Conquer thysclf. Till thou hast done that, thou art slave; for it is almost as we'll for theo to be iu subjection tc another's appetite as thy own.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
Practice.

A Texas parent had son who took piano lessons at Professor Zweibeer's house, but was supposed to do his prac- tlslng on the piano at home. ThespareHt had suspicion that tho youth dld not practise much. One day he said:
 'Tommy, do you practise regularly on the piano when l am down townl"
 "Yes, pa."
 "Evcry dayG'
 "Yes, pa"
 "IIow long did you practise yester' daya' E..
 ''Two hours"
 ''And to-day2'
 ''Thrce hours"
 'I am glad to hear that you practise so regularly"
 ''Ycs, pa."
 "And next time you practise Do surc you unlock tho piano. Hero is the key. locked the piano and put the key in my pocket week ago. "-[ Siftings.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
A BUNCH OF BANANAS.
BY WALLACE F. REED.

"She will be princess, if"
 Juan Valdez leaned forward eagerly to hear what the wrinklcd old hag had to say.
 The fortunc-tcllcr again scrutinized the innocent baby face Leforc her, and looked at tho pink little ralm extended in her brown, lcathsry hand.
 ''She will bc princess, if--'
 Again she paused with evident re- luctancc.
 "Speak!' commanded Senor Valdez "Surely the power of your evil art has not deserted you. If you can look into the future, tell me what is to befall my daughter, the last of her linc."
 The fortunc-tcllcr throw her head back with proud air. She was very old woman. There were people in San Bias who remembered her when she came to the village three score and ten years before, and even then her hair was gray and her face was wrinklcd. She claimed to be Considerably over a century old, and mo one disputed her ward.
 "Senor, Valdez" said tho brown faced sibyl, turning her fierce black eyes full upon him. 'I knew your father, and his father before him. For three generations I have been at the cradle of every newborn babe in the village. I have forctold whatsoever there was of good or evil in their lives. Has any one ever said that Perdita made a mistake or made false prcdictionsa"
 "You misunderstood me, Perdita, , was the humble reply. "It has unnerved me to gain a daughter and lose wife, all in one bitter-sweet hour. My heart is filled with mingled grief and joy, and am impatient to know the future of my last hope, the helrcss of the most mag nifcent estate in Mexico. Will she live or die7 Will she bring joy or sorrow tc my house2"
 Perdita dropped the tiny hand of tho pretty child, and shaded her eyes with her hand.
 '1 see" she murmurcd, 'the proudcs beauty that ever brought our gallan cavaliers to her feet. Her gifts of min6 and person are the wonder and dcligh of her father and all who behold her Something tells me that she will be princess if she lives to sec her 18th birth day. My eyes have followed her througl her infancy and childhood, and down t. the night before her fateful day. Be yond that I cannot sec. I know tha she will be princess, if she is alive ol her 18th birthday. But I know nothin! more."
 Sorely puzzled, and uncertain whethe to be hopeful or Respondent, Senol Valdez gave Pcrdita purse of gold an, dismissed her.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26

An American gentleman who has re- ccntly travelled through Japan, says that the Japanese will in few years be the greatest railroad builders of the world. As yet there arc only 370 miles of railroad in Japan, but many roads are projected. The Japanese are good railroad patrons: 1: for even when they h,ve no business to transact they will ride back and forth on the railroad until they have spent their last cont. And tho bcggars in the large towns nearly always spend the money which they get on railroad trip
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26

she liked her better than any ot the ladies around her.
 "She will be princcss!' old Valdez would repeat hundred times day. ! The senor moved to the capital, and established himself in palace. He raised regiments for Maximilian, loaned the government money, and lived on lavish and extravagant scale.
 In his round of pleasure and excite ment Valdez came near forgetting very important matter. One night it came upon him with shock. k "By all the saints!' he exclaimed, leaping from his bed. "In one week from to-day Rita will be eighteen What did the old witch say9 Her words all depended upon an~if. My da.ght4r will be q princess, if. Ah, that if! l must see to it at once. If any danger threatens Rita it is during the present week."
 The senor hastily dressed himself and ran into his daughters room.
 Rita was sleeping quietly, and her face wore the glow of health.
 Valdez examined the fastenings of tho windows, and then retired locking the door and taking the key with him.
 The next morning he told Rita of his fears, and secured her consent to remain indoors for several days.
 "We must run no risk," the old man said, as he stroked her head affection ately.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
A Face.

Betwesn the curtains of snowy lace, Over thu way, is baby's face. It peeps forth, smiling in merry glee, And waves its pink little hand at me. My heart responds with lonely cry. But in the wonderful By-and-by, Out from the window of Gods ITO Be-" That other baby shall beckon to me- That ever haunting and longed for face, That perfect vision of infant grace, Shall shine on me in splendor of light, Never to fade from my eager sight All that was taken shall be made good All that puzzles me, understood; And the wee white hand that lost one day Shall lead me into the better way.
 --[Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
HUMOROUS.

About tEs first thing lost at sea is tho>-S sight of land.A /
 Half the boys today would rather bo N, drum-majors than>prcsidcnts.
 ''Won by mere scratch" as the hon observed when she turned up the worm; The only people who arc fond of gct\ ting into court are lawyers and young s> folks.
 Waiting fora letter that never camo is not circumstance to walking for q hack ward sncczc >
 A pullman car porter nearly blei-to death the other day-noarly hcd anothor man to death. t a., ....l
 The emperor uf Russia plays tho cors\ net. Can this be~thc real secret of / nihiistic activity.
 man may be behind in his work and still show push. This is so if he is wheeling barrow.
 A new labor movcment-Gctting up in the morning to make the fire whcl your wife calls you.
 The man Ehs wroto 70, solitude, where arc thy tAarms3" was business man who didn't Advertise. /
 Old lady Gu drug store, to small boy); "What am to take this medicine in, sonny2" Sonny: "Takc it in your mouth, mum; tain't to be rubbed on."
 When boy is caught in. an orchard, the first thing ho says is invariably as follows: 'I want goin' to steal none of yer apples"
 Young housewife: "what miserable little eggs again! You really must toll them, Jane, to let tho hens sit on them little longer"
 On tho wedding journey. He (senti- mentally Darling, do you love me better.- than your first husband9 Shc-Ccrtain- ly. He's dead.
 Tho fact is so we'll established that man can be very tai! and at tho samo time very short that it is scarcely neccs- sary to call attention to it.
 "It is discouraging to think" said complaining shoemaker, ''that whatever pains may take with my work it is sure to be tramplcd under foot" An agricultural journal says that honey, to keep well, must bo kept in dry place. If there are any small boys around the house, it will also be found to keep better if locked up.
 Friend-Your dog looks completely worn out. Has he been on hunting cxpedition9 Host-Oh, no; he followed my wife oa shopping tour to-day. He is young dog and can't stand more than forty or fifty miles Q day.
 Prepare to heave the deep-drawn sigh,
 And wrestle with distressing grief,
 And actuate pains of nightmare brief,
 And all because of that mince pio.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
His Best Girl.
He hurried up to the office as soon as he entered the hotel, and without wait ing to register inquired eagerly:

He hurried up to the office as soon as he entered the hotel, and without wait ing to register inquired eagerly:
 'Any letter for me2'
 The clerk sorted over package with the negligent attention that comes of practice, then Tipped onc-a very small one-on the counter.
 The travelling man took it with curious smile that twisted his pleasant looking face into a mask of expectancy.
 He smiled more as he reat it. Then oblivious of other travellers who jostled him, he laid it tendcrly against his lips and actually kissed it. A loud gyfaw startled him.
 ''Now NQkneaa'aff -ftow, ''- -saiitaa-zu,:: saita-zu:: loud voice, 'thatswon't- do, you know: Too snooney for anything. Confess now, your wife didn't write that letter."
 ''No, she didn't" said the travelling man with an amazed look, as if he would likc to change tho subject. That letter is from my best girl"
 The admission was so unexpected that tho trio of friends who had caught him said no moro until aftor they had eaten a good dinner and were seated together in chum's room.
 Then they began to badger him.
 'It's no use, you've got to read it to us, Dick" said one of them, ''we want to know all about your best girl.
 "So you shall," said Dick with great coolncss; "I will give you the letter and you can read it yourselves. There it is, :" and he lad it on tho table.
 T guess not" said the oac who had been the loudest in demanding it, "we like to chaff a little, but hope we are gentlemen. The young lady would hardly care to have her letter read by this crowd" and he looked rcproach- fully at his friend.
 "But insist upon it." was tho an- swer, "there is nothing in it to be ashamed of except the spelling; that is a little shaky, I'll admit, but she won't care in the least Read it, Herdy and judge for yourself"
 Thus urged Hardy took up the letter, shamefacedly enough, and read it. There were only few words. First he laughed---then swallowed suspiciously and as he finished it, threw it on the %oblo o~o;n oo1 r ,hl,oJ +bo h,oly oe h;s hand across his eyes, as if troubled w tn dimness of vision.
 .Pshaw," he said, Eff I had a love letter like that" and then was silent.
 ..'Fair play!n cried one of the others with m uneasy laugh.~
 'Tll read it to you, boys" said their friend, seeing they made no mf5Se~to take it, 'and think you'll agree with me that it's model love letter.' And this was what he read: Mi owen deer PaPa
 sa mi PRairs every nite annd Wen kis yure Pictshure ASK god to bless you gOOd bi Pa Pa yure Best gurl DOLLY
 For a moment or two the company rc mained silent, while the little letter was passed from hand to hand, and yo, would have said that each>and every ono had hay fever by the snuff1ing that wa. heard. Then Hardy jumped to his feet
 s'Three cheers far Dolly and three cheers more for Dicks best girl!'
 '"They were given with will.
Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
VOL. XVII.
Joy and Sorrow

 Somebody heart is gay, And somebody's heart is sad, For lights beam bright across the way, And door with crape is cladl Sadness and gladness e'er
 Are dwellers side by side. Adear ono on her Tier, And the wreathing of bridc. Bright.eyes arc filled with mirth, Pale faces bend in prayer, And hearts beside the cheery hearth Are crushed by stout despairl An, sorrow and joy and hopo s Are parted by thinnest wall, And only on hearts which never ops, Fl. No ghostly shadows fall! No thoughts of the funeral train Come to the festive thronss; No hopesthat joy will dawn asaie, To stricken souls belongs. The future is Ger sunny sea Te.he chiia2sn Of joy and mirth; But only the frost and its memory Comes to stricken ones of earth! Somebody's heart is gay,
 And somebody's heart is sad, For light beams bright ,ros the way. And door with crape is clad Sadness and gladness e'er
 Crowd round us side by side; A sunny smile and a scalding tear, So close they arc alliel! . IL. c. Riggs in St. Louis Magazine.